One of four people accused of attempting to conceal a Newton man’s death earlier this year, has been given a two-year prison sentence and $855 fine. In a negotiated plea agreement, a class C felony charge of abuse of a corpse was dismissed Monday, and 47-year-old Thomas Patrick Olofson of Hudson pleaded guilty to obstructing prosecution, an aggravated misdemeanor. 

Court documents state Olofson and 53-year-old Jeffery Allen Stevens of Newton were under surveillance as part of a drug investigation. On June 9th, after leaving Stevens’ home, Olofson reportedly failed to obey a stop sign, and tried to flee from a traffic stop. During the high-speed police chase, officers say Olofson and a female passenger threw methamphetamine out of their vehicle and attempted to destroy other evidence. Officers reported recovering just over 16 grams of methamphetamine after arresting Olofson and his passenger. The chase ended in Altoona after Olofson allegedly drove the wrong way on Interstate 80 and unsuccessfully attempted to drive through a fence. 

Once in custody, Olofson told police about a body in Stevens’ home. The body of 66-year-old Tomie Lee Misner Jr. of Des Moines was found under a tarp in the basement. Authorities claim Olofson and the three other suspects moved the body there from a bedroom on the main floor of Stevens’ house. 36-year-old Alysha Buell of Des Moines is currently free on a $10,000 bond with a November 3rd Jasper County Court date pending.  63-year-old Scott Ray Mabrier of Des Moines was given a ten-year prison term for Abuse of a Corpse in August, while Stevens remains in custody for abuse of corpse and obstructing prosecution, with a scheduled November 3rd court appearance.